So way back in my younger days when I was in Boy Scouts I always enjoyed shooting the bolt action rifles that they had us use for firearms activities. Now I would like to get one for the range but I do not know all to much about them. What would you guys suggest, and what would you stay away from? Currently the only rifle calibers that I am shooting is .22 and .223/5.56 but I don't mind adding another caliber to it. Ultimately I would like something based on accuracy. I only have access to a 100 yard range but would am hoping to find a longer distance range once I get good enough at 100 yards and also start going to some appleseed events... they sound like a lot of fun.
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What would you buy for a bolt gun?
- Thread starter BE4TNUT
- Start date
Dirtypacman
NES Door Greeter
It all depends of course a shiny brand new bolt gun is an option but there is many older model and CR eligible rifles out on the market.
If I was going to buy just one new I would look at a Remington 700 or the new Ruger gunsite scout (but I would have to read more reviews)
http://www.ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/models.html
If I was going the way of milsurp I would love to get a Swiss K31 or there is plenty of other options like M1903 to name just one.
If I was going to buy just one new I would look at a Remington 700 or the new Ruger gunsite scout (but I would have to read more reviews)
http://www.ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/models.html
If I was going the way of milsurp I would love to get a Swiss K31 or there is plenty of other options like M1903 to name just one.
I will add that my C&R did come in the mail last Friday so those are an option for me. I looked at the CMP site at the M1903 and they look nice, I simply do not know much about bolt guns so that's why I am here looking to be schooled on them as I poke around on the internet also haha.
Dirtypacman
NES Door Greeter
get a remington 700 variant. if you're going for .308 (you should!)
i have a 700 LTR (short PSS with fluted barrel) in .308 and i love this rifle:
This is what I am talking about
It's hard not to look at Savage. Great value for the money, actually easily serviceable by the user, accurate, great trigger and made here in Massachusetts. I like Remington, but am not impressed with the direction the company is going under the new regime.
J
Jose
Tikka T3 Tactical in 223 Remington.
With a 20" 1 in 8 barrel it will hammer all the way to 600 yards if you use the right ammo.
With a 20" 1 in 8 barrel it will hammer all the way to 600 yards if you use the right ammo.
What are you looking to spend?
What distance are you planning to shoot from?
Are you willing to put as much into your optic as you will into your rifle?
As Mark said, Savage is hard to beat for the money. The Remington 700 is legendary and there are a million parts from a million manufactures available for it. Caliber wise I'd either stick with the .223/5.56 or move up to .308, stay away from expensive or odd ball calibers unless you plan to reload (ie .223WSSM, .22-250, .338, etc.)
What distance are you planning to shoot from?
Are you willing to put as much into your optic as you will into your rifle?
As Mark said, Savage is hard to beat for the money. The Remington 700 is legendary and there are a million parts from a million manufactures available for it. Caliber wise I'd either stick with the .223/5.56 or move up to .308, stay away from expensive or odd ball calibers unless you plan to reload (ie .223WSSM, .22-250, .338, etc.)
If you don't mind C&R guns, and want a bolt action rifle that leaves it up to your shooting skill, then I'd suggest looking at a Swiss K31 or K11. It is widely known for accuracy out to incredibly long distances. Also consider Finnish Mosin or Swedish Mauser.
Right now I only have a 100 yard range at the club I belong to. In the future I am hoping to find another range with a longer rifle range. I would also like to attend appleseed shoots to work on proficiency. As for price, I would just want to keep it under a couple grand. I will start off with a scope for a lower budget since initially I will be shooting 100 yards, and then I will save up more money for a good scope and transfer the cheaper one to my .22 that is currently scope-less. I am set up for reloading but it makes more sense to stick with .223 since its what goes through my AR's and already set up for reloading it, that's my thoughts right now at least although I am not opposed to another caliber.
I took a look at that Tikka and it looks like a very nice rifle... has me thinking... haha.
I took a look at that Tikka and it looks like a very nice rifle... has me thinking... haha.
If you're only shooting to 100 yards, .308 is kinda overkill. Although I bought my Rem 700 .308 because I got bored with 5.56. It feels like .22 to me. You'll get incredible accuracy for your money out the Rem 700, Savage-anything, Howa. I think glass is just as if not more important, especially outside 100 yards. I would buy a base rifle that you could play with and customize as you learn and your style, therefore needs, develop.
not sure about other clubs but harvard has a 200 and 300 but you have to "qualify" i guess.
NLRG has a 200 that any member is free to shoot on.
Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant. Very accurate, still fairly cheap at around $300 for a nice one, ammo is still abundant and cheap, plus you can get new production brass cased ammo and reload.
Plus some are flat out freaking beautiful.![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
Plus some are flat out freaking beautiful.
cockpitbob
NES Member
Savage!
Great value, but more important they have arguably the best out of the box accuracy in their class. There's something about that floating head bolt and the barrel nut system. And the Accutrigger is becoming legendary. Even $400 Stevens rifles (made by Savage with same basic design) are reporting sub MOA accuracy out of the box.
Great value, but more important they have arguably the best out of the box accuracy in their class. There's something about that floating head bolt and the barrel nut system. And the Accutrigger is becoming legendary. Even $400 Stevens rifles (made by Savage with same basic design) are reporting sub MOA accuracy out of the box.
A good place to start is with a good quality rimfire rifle.
The CZ 452 is my first choice. They are a bit pricey at a bit more than $400.
I've shot quite a few 3/8" groups at fifty yards and can hit a clay bird at 200 often enough to keep it interesting.
You can find a lot of info over at RFC.
Jack
The CZ 452 is my first choice. They are a bit pricey at a bit more than $400.
I've shot quite a few 3/8" groups at fifty yards and can hit a clay bird at 200 often enough to keep it interesting.
You can find a lot of info over at RFC.
Jack
Is there anything beside a Rem700?! ;o)
![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
cockpitbob
NES Member
As for glass, I personally don't think the old rule of thumb still applies that the scope should cost as much as the gun. There are some damn good $300 scopes out there. For long range work I have a Sightron-S2 4-16X 42mm mil-dot adjustable objective that served me well when I lived in CA and competed at 1K yards (i sure miss access to ranges like that). Great optics, holds zero, $350 at Midway. Spend more than $150, but I don't see any reason to blow $800 on a scope.
I might be a bit of a smaller bore guy with my recommendation but I love my Marlin 908. It shoots .22 Magnums.
That or the Mosin-Nagant 91/30. I think those are the only two bolt actions I've shot recently.
That or the Mosin-Nagant 91/30. I think those are the only two bolt actions I've shot recently.
I like my "sporterized" Mosin Nagant now since I did all I wanted to it , new stock , bipod, scope, made my own scope mount , and sniper bent bolt, all for under $300! what can I say, I'm a cheapskate! hehehe
what can I say, I'm a cheapskate! hehehe
I disagree, at least partially.
Having had a s**ty scope on a bolt action rifle my bare minimum is at least $300. A crappy scope will more or less ruin an otherwise perfectly good rifle.
Having things like repeatable marked turret adjustments, scopes that actually focus, etc, are big plusses in my book. With garbage scopes, the image always seems unclean no matter how much you futz with the adjustments.
-Mike
I personally have a 1893 Turkish Mauser, the thing shoots like a thousand dollar sport gun, and is built like a Brown Bear on steroids, the ammo's expensive as hell, $30 for Remington 20 round boxes, but you can get surplus ammo thats literally copper coated tooled steel (AKA Armor murderizing haha!).
surplus ammo usually much cheaper too, I got 100 round of the surplus AP for about $35 lmao!
surplus ammo usually much cheaper too, I got 100 round of the surplus AP for about $35 lmao!
The Mosin Nagant rifles, namely the 91/30 are fairly cheap, mule-kicking mil-surp that can be had for cheap. It'll do way better than 100 yards and its 7.62x54 round is plentiful. I have one sitting around in my safe I haven't shot (although I have shot a few of these) - one of those projects where I thought I was going to re-create the Vasili Zaitsev sniper then decided not to **** with the history if this piece...dunno if you'd be interested in trading a cheap .22 - I've been considering putting a .22 rifle in my arsenal so I can force myself to practice rifle marksmanship more than I normally do.
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if your looking for cheap a Mosin is the best deal out right now. A good all around rifle I picked up was the Thompson Center Venture in 30-06, very accurate!!! I love .308 but for hunting purposes I think the 30-06 provides a more universal platform.
seanc
NES Member
I would tend to agree here and take it one step beyond. Just about any of the guns you are likely to look at are more than capable of out shooting just about all but the best shooters. What makes all the difference is your ability to see the target and make repeatable corrections via a good scope.
I think that finding a good scope (at a reasonable price) is a lot more difficult than finding a good rifle. In the sub $500 range you really have to be very careful, there is a LOT of stuff out there that looks great but just does not hold up.
